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4 non-traditional ways people spend Christmas

Wally Jordan, left, and Don Bowersox dish out the green beans, stuffing and sweet potatoes for attendees at the free Christmas dinner at Trinity United Methodist Church on Christmas Day 2014.(Photo: Joe Rondone / Democrat)Buy Photo

Christmas trees adorned with lights, wrapping paper covering the floor and a home-cooked dinner are the images that pop into most people’s heads when they think about Christmas. But for those who don’t celebrate the holiday — or who just want to celebrate differently — images of places unexplored, serving spoons and empty Chinese food containers may come to mind.

Here are four ways some Tallahasseeans will spend Christmas Day this year:

Volunteering

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Guests sit down to a free Christmas dinner at Trinity United Methodist Church on Christmas in 2014. Nearly 400 people were served at the dinner by about 150 volunteers.(Photo: Joe Rondone/ Democrat)

The holiday season can inspire people to be more giving. Christmas Day can be an opportunity to volunteer to serve meals to homeless people.

Temple Israel organizes a large event to feed 300 people at The Shelter on Christmas and has for more than 10 years. The volunteers, a mix of Jewish and Christian people, will serve a somewhat traditional Southern dinner with turkey, casseroles and vegetables.

"We just want to make sure that even though right now they’re having a hard time, they have a wonderful dinner and fellowship time," said Stevie Fenton who has been serving with Temple Israel on Christmas for five years. "And they know that people are thinking of them even though they aren’t sitting around a table with their family."

The Shelter isn’t the only place asking for Christmas day volunteers. Project Annie and Trinity United Methodist Church also need volunteers to help serve Christmas dinners to those in need. For more information on volunteering at The Shelter, call 792-9000.

Just spending time together

Ray and Amber Tynan spend a Christmas vacation at the Grand Canyon in Arizona in 2012 instead of having a traditional Christmas.(Photo: Courtesy Amber Tynan)

Presents don’t have to be the center of Christmas. Taking the money that would have been spent on presents and putting it towards a trip, or taking the day to spend quality time together is a heartfelt way to spend Christmas.

Amber and Ray Tynan have been using Christmas as an opportunity to connect with each other for nine years. Amber said when the couple married, they didn’t have children and realized they'd bought everything they needed throughout the year. So they decided to focus on spending time someplace new with each other.

“Every year we try to do something a little different and not materialize Christmas, but put focus on those we care about,” she said.

This year the couple is traveling to New York City. In the past, they have traveled to the Florida Keys, North Carolina and the Caribbean. Next year, they want to travel to the Netherlands.

“When you build experiences with people, that really sticks with you and is what remains in the heart,” Amber said. “And to me, that’s more meaningful than any gift I could buy in a store. “

Eating Chinese food and seeing a movie

For those looking to get out the house or who don’t want to cook, eating Chinese food and going to a movie may be the perfect solution.

Tallahassee resident Jeff Mandel organizes a lunch at a Chinese restaurant that is often followed by a movie for his friends and family.

“It’s for people who wouldn’t otherwise have Christmas day plans,” said Mandel, who has been organizing the event when he is in town on Christmas for years.

He said the invitation, which is usually accepted by 15 to 20 people, is for any of his friends who want to make plans including atheists, Jews, Muslims, people who have no family and people looking to get away from their family.

Working

While most people have the day off, others such as firefighters, police and hospital personnel will still be putting on their uniforms and heading into work.

For Nathan Blake, his Christmas morning will begin at 5:30 a.m. when he heads to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare.

“For me, it’s just another day,” Blake, who is in Florida State University’s Internal Medicine Program, said.

Depending on how late Blake works, he said he likely won’t see his family, who are five hours away in Mariana, Georgia.

To put the Christmas in the holiday spirit, the hospitals floors are decorated. And in the residents’ office, there’s a 4-foot-tall Christmas tree decorated with residents’ ornaments.

“They try to make it feel like Christmas,” Blake said. “It makes it better.”